Alone In San Francisco [Remastered]

Down Beat - 5 Stars - Excellent - "...Monk was in brilliant form...this LP brings you several of the many faces of this remarkable musician..." Record Collector - 4 stars out of 5 -- "The audio quality is exemplary and Monk's repertoire ranges from some of his own celebrated compositions to popular songs from his youth."

With the robust ambiance of Fugazi Hall in San Francisco at his disposal, Thelonious Monk documented ten unaccompanied tracks over two days to create a long-awaited sequel to his immensely endearing Thelonious Himself long-player. As had become somewhat customary for Monk, he brought with him a healthy sampling from his voluminous back catalog, a cover tune or two, and a few of his own new compositions. What is most immediately striking about these specific performances is the full-bodied, accurate reproduction of Fugazi Hall's soundstage. The overtones are rich and thoughtful in their ability to animate Monk's re-creations of some of his most endearing works, such as the pair that opens this set. "Blue Monk" still retains the proud stride and walking blues heritage of previous renderings. Adding a bit of off tempo improvisation, Monk propels and emphasizes the rhythmic swing even harder. He is obviously also enjoying what he is hearing. The audible maturity guiding the artist through the familiar, albeit offbeat, chord progressions of "Ruby, My Dear" is striking. His nimble reflexes and split-second timing render this version superior. Again, the sound of the hall offers even more to enjoy from this performance. It is unfortunate that the playful solitude of "Round Lights" wasn't revisited by Monk. The free-form work is framed within a blues structure, yet reveals all of the slightly askew autonomy of a Monk original. The re-creation of an old 1920s hit "There's Danger in Your Eyes, Cherie" is another of the highlights from Thelonious Alone in San Francisco that was never recorded again by Monk. The noir qualities are immeasurably enhanced by Monk's oblique phrasings as well as the eerie resonance of the Fugazi. Both the CD reissue and the mammoth Complete Riverside Recordings box set luckily include two unique passes of the track. This is an absolute must-own for Monk enthusiasts and jazz lovers alike. ~ Lindsay Planer|